General Requirements
Age Requirement
Must be at least 18 years of age at the time of filing Form N-400.
8 U.S.C. § 1445(b)
Continuous Residence
Must have been lawfully admitted for permanent residence and maintained continuous residence for 5 years immediately preceding the filing of application.
Absence Rules:
- Absence less than 6 months: No break in continuous residence
- Absence 6-12 months: Presumption of break (rebuttable with evidence)
- Absence over 12 months: Breaks continuous residence (apply N-470 to preserve)
Physical Presence
Must have been physically present in the United States for at least 30 months during the 5-year period.
This is actual time spent in the U.S., which may include brief trips abroad.
State/District Residence
Must have resided in the state or USCIS district where the application is filed for at least 3 months immediately preceding filing.
Good Moral Character
Must be a person of good moral character for the statutory period (5 years) and continue to be of good moral character up to the time of taking the Oath of Allegiance.
Bars to Good Moral Character
- • Murder conviction (permanent bar)
- • Aggravated felony conviction after Nov 29, 1990 (permanent bar)
- • Crimes involving moral turpitude
- • Two or more gambling offenses
- • Habitual drunkard
Timeline
Filing Fees
Fee waivers available for eligible applicants
English & Civics Requirements
English Language Test
Applicants must demonstrate an understanding of the English language, including an ability to read, write, and speak words in ordinary usage.
Civics Test
Applicants must demonstrate knowledge of U.S. history and government.
Total questions in study guide. Officer asks up to 10 questions; must answer 10 correctly to pass.
Exemptions & Accommodations
Age/Residence Exemptions
- 50/20: Age 50+ with 20+ years as LPR - exempt from English
- 55/15: Age 55+ with 15+ years as LPR - exempt from English
- 65/20: Age 65+ with 20+ years as LPR - shorter civics list
- N-648: Medical disability may waive English and/or civics
Disability Accommodations
Applicants with disabilities may request accommodations (Form N-648) for the English and/or civics tests. Determinations made on a case-by-case basis.
Oath of Allegiance
8 U.S.C. § 1448 • INA § 337
"I hereby declare, on oath, that I absolutely and entirely renounce and abjure all allegiance and fidelity to any foreign prince, potentate, state, or sovereignty; that I will support and defend the Constitution and laws of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I will bear arms on behalf of the United States when required by the law; that I will perform noncombatant service in the Armed Forces when required by the law; that I will perform work of national importance under civilian direction when required by the law; and that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; so help me God."